Buying a horse is a big investment, and owning one takes a lot of time and money, but it can give you many unforgettable rewards. Before buying a horse, you need to be sure that you have found one that is perfect for your personality and that of other people who will eventually ride it, and that it is suitable for what you want to do. There are so many factors that not only risk making you overspend, but can also be painful. Find the right horse and you can have a happy and lasting relationship with him.
Steps
Method 1 of 6: The Preparation Steps
Step 1. Make sure you want to buy a horse
If you are looking for information, try contacting a trainer and let them know that you want to buy one in the future. This will grab his attention because you will be considered a long-term customer. These people already know the ins and outs of the horse world and will be of great help to you. Really understand the level of commitment a horse requires and the effect it will have on you and your family.
Step 2. If you are taking riding lessons, inform your trainer that you are looking for a horse or pony
They often know customers who sell horses or are able to get you to find particular horses.
Step 3. Learn everything you can about handling a horse, including its health and first aid
Go to the library and look for books about horses.
Step 4. Learn about local laws, responsibility for keeping horses, local taxes on livestock that can breed (mares and stallions), and fire laws for stables
Step 5. Learn about local resources
Look for reception facilities, saddlery, feed shops, hay farms, veterinarians and farriers in the area, the nearest horse hospital and the nearest dedicated ambulance.
Step 6. Make sure you always have food supplies, because a horse is a "whole garden disposal unit" and, therefore, must be fed
Usually a local farrier will know how to include you in his rounds, but look for the phone numbers of multiple people in the industry, in case you can't always get supplies from the same person.
Step 7. A valuable equine veterinarian is essential
You will need to have an experienced man (or woman) who can call for any advice and who visits the horse well at first.
Step 8. Work out how much you will pay for the horse's livelihood
Go to a fodder wholesaler and ask for basic materials (hay, bran and pellets), then add the costs of saddle, bridle, saddle cover, guide, halter, muzzle bridle, mane kit and water containers. This should give you a total cost, but maintenance can be extra. Include transportation costs, if you don't own the horse trailer or cart, as well as the costs of a stable.
Step 9. Don't forget the budget for:
- Horse food (hay and other types of forage).
- A good harness (with saddle and bridle).
- Regular veterinary visits.
- Deworming.
- Injections.
- Visits of the farrier for tools and borders.
- Emergency treatments.
- Driving lessons.
- Training.
- Equipment and provisions.
- All necessary medical tests and medicines.
Step 10. Find a suitable place to keep the horse
Keeping it in a place of ownership or in a land rented in person is a choice that only those with experience can choose to make. Parks with dedicated stables are more suitable for first-time horse owners. Look for classifieds in local newspapers, horse magazines and the internet. Ask in saddlery and riding schools. If a yard (or barn) doesn't have space, ask the owners to recommend another one.
Step 11. Visit different lodgings and ask about schedules, costs, food, just as you would do yourself
If an accommodation is poorly managed, you will need to provide food, water and cleaning for your horse yourself. If it is professional you must remember that it is right to pay properly. Choose one that meets the horse's needs (safety, annual availability), that makes you feel comfortable (with friendly people), that meets your needs (schools and showers). Some stables prefer young riders, others restrict entry to adults.
Step 12. Make sure you have a space in the yard that you prefer
Good backyards are rare, so be prepared to pay weekly or monthly for a reserved space.
Step 13. If you plan to keep the horse on your property, find an expert to help you fence it
Make sure the fence is stable, higher than 1.5m and that there are no wires where the horse can trip and injure himself. Do not use barbed wire. Make sure you have water containers suitable for the large quantities needed and separate containers for food, away from water.
Method 2 of 6: Find Your Horse
Step 1. Make a list of the characteristics of the horse you are looking for:
size, gender, age, health, discipline and training, color, price, race, pedigree.
Step 2. Tell people you are looking for a horse
Word of mouth is the best way to find it. Talk to instructors, vets, farriers and saddlery owners - they have a lot of contact with horse owners.
Step 3. Advertise that you are looking for a horse
A "Looking for a Horse" sign can be distributed in saddlery, veterinary clinics, local and national horse magazines and on the internet.
Step 4. In these places, look for sales announcements
Do it also on the internet, for example on iltuocavallo.it.
Step 5. Ask around about reputable sellers
Step 6. If you are new to the field, a good thing would be to buy "used" horses with a good temperament and that have already been tamed
If you buy such a horse, make sure the rider has a similar level to yours, otherwise it can be risky. A horse of medium pedigree usually breeds better horses for young riders.
Method 3 of 6: Evaluate a Horse
Step 1. Make a list of things you want to ask the owner
Eg:
- Confirmation of all advertising characteristics, such as color, age, height, race, etc.
- History and pedigree.
- Medical and competitive history.
- Reasons for the sale.
- Vices or bad habits of the horse (biting, kicking, opposing, refusing).
- The management of the horse up to that point.
- Security registrations (microchips or pedigree company registrations).
- If the equipment is included or can be bought at cheap prices from the owner himself.
- If the horse has trouble traveling.
Step 2. Contact horse owners who meet your criteria
Step 3. Ask a lot of questions, to avoid making unnecessary trips if the horse is not suitable
Step 4. Check with the sports federations if the victories the owner boasts are true
If the horse is marked you can check if it has been stolen. Search the database of stolen horses in your country. Look at the external links.
Step 5. Visit the horse at least twice
- First visit. Arrive a little earlier than agreed and try to see how the horse is treated in the stable. Ask to see him in different situations, based on what you want to do with him and what the horse can do according to what the owner said; ask for example to be able to see him led by a child or by you, in traffic, in the stable or in the pen, or with other horses. If the equipment and harness are included in the price, evaluate them.
- Second visit. If you think the horse is worth another visit, bring an experienced friend or professional with you. Better yet, someone who knows your skill level, such as your instructor (remember to pay for the time a professional gives you). When you find a horse you like, the best advice is "sleep with him". Don't just accept the purchase and deliver the money. Try to negotiate the price on the second visit.
- Test the horse. While many don't like having their horse tested, doing this will allow you to choose with more confidence. It will allow you to ride the horse for two weeks, keep it at home, take it to the Pony Club or a show and see how it performs. Talk to the owner; you may come up with a positive solution. Most of the tests usually last 1-2 weeks, but some tests can last up to a month, during which time you are solely responsible for the horse, even financially.
Method 4 of 6: Buy the Horse
Step 1. Tell the owner if you want to buy the horse
Agree on the price, submit the horse to a vet check, and ask to be able to give a deposit (10 or 20% of the price) to secure the horse from other buyers.
Step 2. Find a veterinarian who visits the horse before paying
It is expensive, but many insurance companies still ask for a certificate.
Step 3. Find out what the horse has eaten so far
You need to change your diet gradually over a week or two. Buy food from the owner himself if needed.
Step 4. Secure the horse before transporting it
Step 5. Set up a safety area, stable or paddock with other horses
Find all the basic essentials for eating, cleaning, traveling and some rugs if you need them.
Step 6. Find a way to transport the horse to its new home
Do you or your trainer have a trailer? If you don't have a horse cart or box, you can rent them including the driver or drive them yourself. Learn about the laws for transporting horses - and whether your license allows you to do so.
Step 7. Allow the horse to adapt calmly, and be careful when introducing him to other horses
Stay on your old routine as much as possible for the first week. It will take more than a week for the horse to feel comfortable. Give him space, but be careful not to make him feel abandoned.
Method 5 of 6: The Negotiation
- Don't choose a horse just because it's cheap. A problem horse is not for beginners and, in the long run, costs more, in terms of money and health.
- Less attractive horses, horses with superficial scars or nodules, with unpopular colors, of unknown breeds or crosses, usually cost less even if they are not necessarily not suitable, especially if you think you are not showing them.
- Many owners prefer to give you the equipment for the same price rather than lower the agreed price.
- Buy at the end of a season, or in winter, when prices are lower (except for hunting horses, which are best bought in summer or spring).
- Try to pay the selling price, but always ask if they offer a particular discount (10 or 20% below the established price).
- Remember, if you already have a saddle, you still need bridle suitable for the horse. If the owner sells you the equipment, you can always resell what you don't need, so you don't pay for things you don't need.
Method 6 of 6: Purchase Alternatives
- Try adopting a horse on behalf of a serious conservation organization. Note that there will be adoption fees. You will not be the legal owner of the horse and you will not be able to sell it or have it reproduced. If you can no longer take care of it, the organization will take it back with them.
- Borrowing a horse is like adopting it. In this case, however, the owner will be a private individual. Loans can be short or long term.
- Sharing a horse involves caring for and riding it for part of the week, as well as sharing the expenses of looking after it. The owner is usually a single person.
- Working for racing is like sharing a horse, but there is no money passing from one hand to another.
- Renting a horse is another alternative to buying.
Advice
- Don't fall in love with the color of a horse. Good and bad horses are of all colors.
- Beauty counts for nothing if the horse is not suitable. Only beautiful horses will also be more expensive.
- Have a friend or instructor ride the horse, people who can help you find the perfect one.
- If you are looking for a soft ride, choose a horse with a short crotch (the area between the ankle and the hoof) and a low withers.
- Remember that buying a horse is not done in one day. It will take days, weeks or even months. Plan well to purchase.
- Tell the owner if you don't like a horse. It is polite to do so and explain the reasons.
- Don't be too picky about height. A small round pony may be more suitable, perhaps, for someone with long legs than a tall, skinny thoroughbred. If you buy a horse for your child, don't buy it just because it's small. Make sure it is trained and suitable for a child. Would you prefer him to ride a young pony or a calm horse?
- Ask if the measurements have been taken and if the owner knows the height, especially if you want the animal to participate in competitions and shows.
- See more than one horse!
- Build a network of horse enthusiasts. You will need it.
- Remember, a good horse will live a long time. Make sure you can look after your horse for at least 5 years after purchase. It is not about a day or two, but about years that you will spend together.
- When you calculate the budget to keep a horse, start with the cost in the most expensive period, the winter, add 50% and multiply by 12.
- If the owner has a horse trailer or box, he can transport the horse for you. If you become the owner of the horse at the end of the trip, this way you avoid being subject to laws on accepting money to transport someone else's horse.
- Keeping a horse on your property will be cheaper, but more challenging, because there will be fewer people to help you. It will be very difficult, for example, to go on vacation.
- If you want a horse only as a pet and not for riding, get a miniature one. They are great company - but concerned with providing them with care and exercise.
- Offer to show the owner where you will be hosting the horse, and ask your instructor or a local association to judge if the place is suitable. Shows the previous owner the victories and qualifications achieved.
Warnings
- When looking for a horse, do not visit it unless you are sure you can buy it. It will just be a pain to go away and you will have wasted time for the seller and the horse!
- Buying at auction is not recommended for beginners without professional advice.
- Buying a horse without a prior veterinary visit is not recommended. You will still have to do it for insurance.
- Owning a horse is a big responsibility. Make sure you have the support, money, time and knowledge to take care of it.
- Ask for a sales contract (or at least a receipt) when buying a horse. Don't be embarrassed to ask - you don't know the owner!
- Not all traders serve your interests or those of the horse. Go to trusted traders and leave if you are not convinced. Check that the horses in the yard are happy and healthy.
- Buying a horse you haven't seen is not advisable. Even if you have to go to another country, the cost is not comparable to the price and cost of transport. If you ask for photos and videos of the horse, ask about him walking or trotting. Bring someone you trust to view it.
- If the owner does not allow you to see the horse with a professional or to have it examined, leave: it means that something is wrong.
- Don't leave a horse alone. Find him a friend, an old horse, a goat, a pony or something similar. Horses are very social, and it is almost a crime not to allow them to socialize.
- Going home is stressful for the horse. Be affable and don't ride that day - start the next day. They forget right away and recover quickly if they feel valuable. Start what you need as soon as possible (shows, races, etc.).
- Make sure you know the difference between a gelding horse and a stallion. Some weird people get rid of stallions they don't want by trying to convince people that it's a gelding horse. Don't be stupid enough to fall for it!
- Don't let a salesperson convince you to buy something unsuitable. If he says something like "Hopefully, you won't even notice the crooked foot", walk away.
- If you decide to borrow, share, or try your horse, make sure you have a contract: how to treat it, what activities it should do, what happens if it gets sick, injured or dies while you are handling it.
- In the European Union, a horse must have a passport. The owner must deliver it to you: it is illegal not to! Change ownership as soon as you can.
- Don't buy an old, weak, untested, or unsafe horse just because "it's nice and needs a nice home." An old horse will not live long and, like a weak one, will have very high costs for care. Older horses can be excellent first horses for children. Untested and dangerous horses can attack someone.
- During the visit, ask the owner to ride the horse before you. If the owner decides not to do it for no reason, don't either.
